Appeals court rejects EPA bid on pollution case

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court will not reconsider a decision blocking an Obama administration effort to tighten restrictions on power plant pollution.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied the administration's request for a new hearing on Thursday. The court said a majority of its eight active judges opposed rehearing the case.

A three-judge judge panel ruled in August that the Environmental Protection Agency's cross-state air pollution rule exceeded EPA's authority. The EPA had said the rule would reduce power-plant pollution that contributes to unhealthy air in neighboring states.

The appeals court panel faulted the EPA for imposing "massive emissions reduction requirements" on upwind states without regard to limits imposed by law.

A spokeswoman for the EPA, Alisha Johnson, says the agency is reviewing the decision.